Today, as Ukraine has lived with the reality of full-scale war for more than three years, international cooperation is no longer the sole responsibility of the government or diplomatic institutions. Cities now play a significant role in shaping foreign policy. Communities that confront the consequences of war every day – destroyed infrastructure, waves of displaced people, and economic challenges – have become active players in international relations. Developing international ties at multiple levels enables the securement of additional assistance, the sharing of experiences, and the strengthening of Ukraine’s visibility in the world.
Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, and Odesa each illustrate different dimensions of this “municipal diplomacy”. The capital serves as a center of political gravity and a symbol of resistance; Lviv acts as a humanitarian hub and a bridge between Ukraine and the EU; Kharkiv stands as a frontline city under constant shelling and Odesa serves as the country’s strategic “maritime gateway”.
One of the key indicators of municipal diplomatic activity is the number of sister cities or international partners. Partnerships with these cities (see Figure 1) not only symbolize friendship but also actively support Ukrainian communities across multiple areas: from humanitarian assistance to joint reconstruction projects.
Figure 1. Sister and partner cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Lviv
How do these partnerships work in practice? Let’s look at a few examples.
Kyiv is developing partnerships aligned with key national priorities, including recovery, security, and financial support. In September 2023, for example, the city signed a partnership agreement that provides for the transfer of public transport vehicles and municipal equipment from Berlin, as well as the establishment of a municipal prosthetics center for service members – an initiative of critical importance for a country at war.
With the onset of the full-scale invasion, Warsaw assumed the role of a key logistics hub for collecting, storing, and distributing humanitarian aid to Kyiv from other partner cities. Through this mechanism, the Ukrainian capital received more than 3,500 tons of humanitarian supplies, transported on return evacuation missions. Additionally, Warsaw played a crucial role in providing shelter for Ukrainians. Thanks to cooperation in the spring of 2022, more than 4,500 people evacuated from Kyiv and the Kyiv region on special transports found safe refuge in Polish cities.
As part of a longer-term cooperation initiative, Kyiv-based enterprises, supported by the Kyiv City State Administration, participated in an industrial exhibition in Warsaw.
Lviv became the principal humanitarian hub in western Ukraine from the first days of the war, coordinating aid for six regions. The United Nations established a special office in the city to coordinate the work of international humanitarian organizations, underscoring its strategic importance. A major milestone in Lviv’s international cooperation was the creation of the National Rehabilitation Center Unbroken, supported by partner cities Freiburg and Vilnius. Thanks to their financial assistance, the center’s building was restored and opened, and it began receiving wounded soldiers just three months later. This partnership goes beyond assistance to Ukraine: European doctors now come here to learn from the Ukrainian experience in wartime medicine and rehabilitation. Lviv’s cultural and symbolic diplomacy also merits special attention. The city actively promotes its identity through festivals, presenting Ukraine as a European nation with a rich cultural heritage.
Kharkiv, because of its location near the front line, faces unique challenges. Constant shelling makes the rapid and safe implementation of large-scale reconstruction projects impossible. Cooperation with foreign partners, therefore, focuses on financing initiatives that strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure, as well as on preparing the necessary documentation and technical plans for future rebuilding. The city has received six cogeneration units from international partners – a key element in developing decentralized microgrids. Kharkiv has also secured €35 million from international partners to modernize and decentralize critical infrastructure, including the energy system and water-supply networks.
Odesa’s international role stems from its geopolitical importance as Ukraine’s key “maritime gateway”. The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) has signed memoranda of cooperation with the Port Network Authority of the Eastern Adriatic Sea (Port of Trieste) and the Port System Authority of the Western Ligurian Sea (Port of Genoa). This partnership aims to establish new logistics routes for Ukrainian cargo and businesses, creating new opportunities to integrate Ukraine’s port system into European transport corridors. Another striking example is Odesa’s cooperation with the city of Yokohama. Beyond cultural exchange, Yokohama has provided assistance, including 300 personal computers for children and support for the reconstruction of a kindergarten, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The experience of Ukrainian cities (not only those discussed in this article) shows that amid the war, they have developed diverse models of municipal diplomacy. Establishing direct channels of communication with international donors and partners has facilitated the rapid provision of humanitarian and financial assistance, as well as the strengthening of cultural ties. Taken together, these partnerships form a network of local “centers of strength” that reinforce Ukraine’s international agency.
Photo: depositphotos.com/ua
